Combined vending and amusement machine



' 5, 9- M. WOLIN ET AL 02 COMBINED VENDING AND AMUSEMENT MACHINE Fiied'Sept. 16, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I BY , ATTORNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 M. WOLIN ET AL COMBINED VENDING AND AMUSEMENT MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1927 m f f 2 Wm 3 0 m W/IVIZY/l/ll/d s A Mm Nov. 5, 1929.

Z'. ATTORNEY V 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 M. WOLIN ET AL Filed Sept. 16, 1927 1&9) 170 COMBINED VENDING AND AMUSEMENT MACHINE Ill-l Patented Nov. I 5, 1929 UNITED STATES7 PATENT omer.

MARK WOLIN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AND NICHOLAS F. RIBSAM, OF JERSEY CITY,

NEW JERSEY COMBINED VENDING AND AMUSEMENT MACHINE Application filed September 16, 1927. Serial No. 219,850.

This invention relates to combined ven d' ing and amusement machines and contemplates the provision of mechanism for vending articles, such as packages of 4 chewing gum, or the like, providing a device for playing a game at the same time, the outcome of said game being dependent upon the dexterity and skill of the purchaser. If desired, a suitable reward for a successful player may be deliveredto him in any practicable manner, preferably as herein shown, by automatic devices connected with the machine.

1 A further object of the invention is to provide an improved package dispensing device,

' the operation of which is controlled by a check-controlled mechanism of suitable character togetherwith a means for testing the dexterity and quickness of eye possessed by a purchaser using such dispensing device.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved mechanism for operating a package dispensing machine of the type described.

A further object of the invention is to construct an improved mechanism by means of which the skill and dexterity of a user may be utilized for the playing of a game, orto obtain a suitable reward.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter-pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. l is a front elevational view of the improved device embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view thereof, the back of the machine having been removed to show the operating mechanism in the position normally maintained by the apparatus before actuation.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a portion of the mechanism, as seen from the rear of the machine, shown partly in section, and disclosing the positions assumed by certain of the parts when moved to eject purchased merchandise from the machine.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2, disclosing the coin chute construction and also the retainer for the ball used in the game device.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 2, showing a feature 7 1 of the dispensing device.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 2, and showing the coin chute and coin trip relations.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of part of the coin chute and of the mechanism actuated by the cointo release Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view, takeii on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2, illustrating the preferred construction of the game ball retaining parts of the device for further actuation by a purchaser.

means, and the return chute provided for said ball.

Fig. '10 is a perspective view of a part of the merchandise ejector.

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view of the device, taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 2, showing the manner of assembling the means controlled by the purchaser in the dexterity test hereinbefore mentioned.

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 1212 of Fig. 2, in which the manner of associating the ball carrier with its runway is disclosed.

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 1313 of Fig. 1, showing the article delivery wheel.

Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view on the lar construction of the coin receiving and rejecting device is disclosed.

The improved machine includes mechanis for vending articles of merchandise such, for example, as packets of chewing gum or the like, actuation of said mechanism being normally prevented until a coin of predetermined denomination is deposited in suitable. means associated with the device. Further, the machine includes, in connection with the vendline 14-14 of Fig. 2, in which the particuin mechanism referred to, a game or amusethe use, by the purchaser,

b ment intercepting the ball, he may then cause it to operate other mechanism whereby a souvenir, premium or free sample as desired, is delivered to the purchaser, or, if preferred, a score may be indicated.

In the particular practical embodiment of my invention illustrated on the drawings, the

panel, 10 carries all the operative elements of the amusement and dispensing'device to a be described. The panel 10 consists of a frame 12, in the front face 14 of which is *mounted the transparent window 16.. This window discloses toaview the play board 18 on which are mounted the several visible elements of the game or amusement device.

The back of said board carries as hereinafter described, the various mechanisms by means of which said dispensing and amusement device is actuated. The entire panel 10, carrying its associated mechanisms, may be provided with hinge means 20, whereby the device may be mounted to be swung toward and away from a suitable support, with respect to which it may be fixed by means of the lock 22, whereby unauthorized tampering with the mechanism or with the coins or .the like, deposited in the machine, is prevented.

Generally described, a coin or check G, deposited in the'coin receiving and rejecting means 24, if of the proper character, will pass down the coin guide 26, to trip the ball gate 28 through an appropriate mechanism, to release ball 30. The coin C will be stopped by the projecting finger 32 of the dispensing mechanism actuator 34. Ball 30, when re leased, passes down ball guide 36 to fall into the ball carriage 38 of the ball elevator 40. Now,hand wheel 42 is turned counter clockwise (see Fig. 1), whereupon the carriage 38 will be raised and the dispenser interlock 43 .will contact with the coin C and force the finger 32 to rotate and drive the dispensing mechanism actuator 34 to dispensing position, when a package 44 will be discharged by the dispensing mechanism 46 down the delivery chute 48.

At the same time, the ball 30 will have passed from carriage 38 down the runway 50 to appear in view of the operator at the front face of the apparatus. The ball, ac-

cording to particular circumstances of ink device, the operation of which involves.

so depact, etc., will now course down the inclines hold on hand wheel 42 and the parts of the apparatus, due to their weight, return to their normal position. The ball 30 rolls out of cup 56, down the trip chute 62 to' be stopped by gate 28.

Coins C, after coaction with finger 32, are guided into the coin retaining incline 64 into contact with the coin gate 66, held in locked position by the lock pawl 68. When ball 30 passes down trip chute 62, the pawl 68 is momentarily released, whereupon a discharge of coin or coins from incline 64 tlirough gate 66 and discharge outlet 70 takes p ace.

The detailed construction of this embodi- .ment of the invention shown in these drawings is hereinafter described. The panel 10 may be made up in any well known manner to receive the board 18 and the window 16. Said window is spaced from board 18 by frame 12 and retained in contact with said frame by means of the exterior ornamental wookwork 72. Suitable shock and weather.- proofing strips 7 4 may be mounted between Window 16, frame 12 and ornamental Woodwork 72. V

The coin receiving and rejecting means 24 comprises a face plate 76 in which are provided suitable openings 77 for receiving securing means of any well known character to fasten said means upon a support with which saidpanel is associated. Said means 24 is so .associated with the support that, when the panel is secured by lock 22, the discharge end 78 will be aligned with open upper end of coin guide 26.

While face plate 76 is adapted to be secured in upright non-tilted position, the body 79 of said means 24 is secured to said plate at a slight angle to the vertical, of a degree equal to the'tilt of slot 80 formed in plate 76. Body 79 consists of a fixed portion 82 and a movable portion 84 pivotally mounted on said fixed portion by the pin 86 carried in bearings formed in lugs 88 and 90 on said fixed and movable portions respectively. A spring 92 carried on pin 86 normally maintains movable portion 84 so that a finger piece 94 will be in contact with the end ofadj usting screw 96 threaded through a boss 98 on fixed opening 102 formed between the two portially strikes before rolling over opening 102.

Both portions 82 and 84 are provided with the rectangular openings 106, 108 past which the coin C must roll in the course of its travel to coin guide 26. Mounted on the movable portion 84 is the angle iron 110 adjustable vertically with respect to opening 108 by releasing the clamping screws 112 which pass through slots in said angle iron. A projection 114 at the end of said means 24 positioned over guide 26 forms a stop wall which, together with end stop 100, define the com dlscharge opening 116 of said means 24.

A coin deposited at slot 80 will fall on floor 104 and roll over opening 102. If ofless thickness than that of the coin designed to acuate the coin mechanism, the coin deposited will fall through open 102 and may be returned to the depositor through suitable chutes (not shown) or may fall to a coin receptacle (not shown), as desired. The coin now traverses the space of openings 106, 1 08, in its path to the coin guide 26. If the coin is not of proper width,'it will fall, due to the 'tilt of the body portions 82 and 84, through opening 108 to be handled in the manner described for opening 102.

Likewise, ifthe coin is too thick, the inwardly projecting edge of angle iron 110 will stop the'coin in its travel and prevent further operation of the machine until the coin has been removed. Angle iron 110 may also be utilized to prevent the admission to the machine of coins having a diameter not intended for said apparatus. Slot 80 may be proportioned to prevent the admission of coins of greater diameter or thickness than some particular value.

If a proper coin has been deposited, it will roll till stopped by projection 114 and fall through opening 116 into coin guide 26.

Coin guide 26 is made up of any suitable material as, for instance, sheet metal, bent to provide a member 118 of rectangular crosssection in the up er end of which is seated the hopper 120 aligned .with the opening 116.

Near the lower end of member 118 and in the rear surface 122 thereof, a slot 124 is provided through which the inturned prong 126 at one of the pivoted arm 128 projects. Said arm, which is mounted on a bearing post 130 fixed to the rear side of board 18 has its other end connected by link 132 with ball gate 28:

Ball gate 28 consists of a weighted body portion 134 having an inturned finger 136 projecting through a slot 138, formed in the wall 140 of the ball guide 36. One end of said gate is provided with suitable means 'whereby the gate may be mounted upon the fixed bearing post 142 securely mounted on the rear side of board 18, while the other end of said gate normallyrests upon the stop 144, aflixed to or made integral with said ball guide 36. I

The lower edge of finger 136, when gate 28 is in its normal position, is maintained spaced from the inclined floor 146 of ball guide 36 a sufiicient distance to restrain ball 30 from rolling down the floor 146 to ball carriage 38. However, a coin falling down coin guide 26 will have sufficient energy in its impact upon the prong 126 to lift, through the arm 128 and link 132, the gate 28 from stop 144 and permit ball 30 to roll down floor 146 into carriage 38.

Coin C, after impacting prong 126, rolls partly out of-coin guide 26 through a vertical slot 148 formed in a side thereof and comes to rest in abutment with finger 32 and a restricted wall portion 150 of coin guide 26. Furtheroperation of the apparatus requires the operator to rotate the handwheel 42 in a counter-clockwise direction. Said hand wheel is affixed to the projecting end of a shaft 152 rotatably supported by the bearing bracket 154 mounted on the rear side of ornamental woodwork 72 through which shaft 152 projects. shaft has affixed thereto one end of the crank arm 156. The other end'ofsaid crank arm is connected by means of the link 158 with the pivoted bar 160.

Between the end 162 of said bar to which The inner end of said link 158 is connected and the bearing post be secured to board 18 or to the extension 172 of coin guide 26, as desired. Said actuator, the other end of which is connected to dispensing mechanism 46 by means of link rod .174, which in turn is connected to the bell crank 176, actuates said mechanism by sliding the trap plate 178 to the left, as seen in Fig. 2, against the action of a spring 180 retained between retainers on the board 18 and plate 17 8, said bell crank having a sliding anl pivotal connection with said plate as at 18 v 1 I Said plate 178 is carried in the horizontal guides 184 and 186, an opening 188 in said plate being held normally positioned over the floor of guide 186 which is positioned at the lower end of the article storage 190 in which a number of packages 44 are stacked. When in normal position, said plate will have a package 44 positioned in opening 210 presenting 188. Said delivery storage may be made up in any well known manner as, for instance, of sheet metal bent into channel form and having the inturned flanges 192 presenting carries a package 44 past guide 186 and allowsit to fall into the open end of delivery chute 48 mounted. on the rear of board 18 and communicating, by means of an opening throu h the ornamental woodwork 72, with the delivery outlet 196 on the front face thereof, and through which the package 44 passes on into the hand of the purchaser.

When the package 44 has dropped down chute 48,interlock 43 will have pushed coin C sufliciently past the finger 32 so that coin C will fall away therefrom and continue its fall down coin guide 26. At the same instant finger 32 will have been released so that s ring 180 will become active to return plate 128 until opening 188 registers with storage 190. Coin C, after passing finger 32, will fall through the chute 198 into the coin retaining incline64, down which it will roll into contact with the coin gate 66, or, if other coins have already been'deposited, in line therewith. If incline 64 has been filled to capacity, excess coins deposited will roll over the upper edge 200 of said incline into a C0111 safe 202 carried by said panel. The incline 64 may be made in any suitable manner, as by raised shoulders 204 on the board 18.

In the endof bar 160 removed from the interlock 43 "is formed the longitudinal slot 206 in which is slidably received the pivot post 208 fixed to the rear face-of carriage 38. Said carriage is formed of a channel piece the projecting flanges 212 and 214, which are wider than the vertical opening 216' formed in the ball elevator 40, by the flanges 215, 217 thereof. A plate 218 secured .to the front face of said channel piece is of sufiicient width to be received in opening 216, while a second plate 220 secured to plate 218 is of a greater width than said opening. 'It will thus be noted that a guide for carriage 38 is formed by the rear surface of channel piece 210" and the second plate 220 spaced therefrom by plate 218. Se-

curely positioned on the bottom surface of flange 214 is the finger 222 projecting through opening 216. When in normal, lowered position, ball 30 falling down ball guide 36 will be stopped by finger 222 and supported thereby.

Upon rotating handwheel 42 to dispense a package 44, bar 160 will raise carriage 38,

an opening in the wall of'elevator 40, said opening registering with the runway 50.

At the upper and lower ends of the elevator 40, the stop cushions 224, made of any suitable shock absorbing material may be provided, the projecting flanges 212, 214 contacting with said cushions at the limits of travel of carria e 38. Itshould be noted here that the e ort exerted by the operator on the hand wheel 42 contributes to the impetus given ball 30 in its'travel down runway 50 and its subsequent movements, due to the shock of contact with the upper cushion 224. Also, the ball, when riding'in carriage 38- is not exactly centralized therein, but rides on an edge of the finger 222 and against a wall of the elevator. This last feature results in 'an initial sidewise blow being iven the ball. Therefore, a part of the test 0 skill herein described is to judge the impact of the earri age 38 against cushion 224 necessary in relation to the proper position for the parts hereinafter described.

Runway 50 may be made of sheet material or similar material, formed to present a channel cross-section and secured to board 18 in any suitable manner. At the end of runway 50 defined by the wall 226, a perforation 228 through board 18 provides communication between said runway and the upper ends of inclines 52.

Board 18, at the front thereof, is formed with a recess 230 within which are mounted the elements of the dexterity testing device which the operator must necessarily see. Secured to board 18 in said recess and with the middle point thereof in line with the vertical axis of the perforation 228is the upper slope 232 of inclines 52, said slope being symmetrlcal with respect to said axis of perforation 228. The outer edges 234 of said slope are spaced from the inner wall of recess 230 so that ball 30 may fall upon either of the lower slopes 236, according to which side of slope 232 it had previously selected.

In order to provide against the possibility that, due to some slight defects in construction, the ball would always take the same course down the inclines 52, the ball 30 is not made of the customary spherical form but is made up as an oblate spheroid or any other rolling body resembling a sphere and yet not having the same cross-section on .all axes.

The slopes 236 terminate inwardly of the edges 234, providing the opening 238 through which ball '30 falls to take its indeterminate course through the hazard 54. Saidhazard may comprise a number of rows of pins 240 mounted in staggered relation upon the floor of recess 230 and projecting approximately horizontally therefrom.

Each row ofpins is considerably longerthan the distance between the ends of slopes 236 to lessen the possibilit of ball 30 passing around the hazard. I desired, intermei diate pins 241'restricting the ibility of sidewall of trip chute 62. A finger 270 such escape of ball 30 from t e bounds of pivoted on the bearing post 272 fixed toboard the hazard, may be provided. L 18 extends through sald slot and into close Positioned immediately below hazard 54 is proximi to the ball gate finger 136. In-

l 3 a fantastic figure 242, here shown as a girl tegral wlthand forming an extension from holding up her apron as if to catch a fallfin er 270 is the weighted arm 274 which noring object. In fact said figure in part forms ma ly rests upon the stop 276 aflixed to board the front wall of cup 56 which has an open l8. Operatively connected to finger 270, as rear endfor a purpose hereinafter appearby a link 280 pivoted intermediate the m ing. Said cup is carried by suitable 'supweighted arm 274 is the vcrank 282 carried rts in the form of a bracket arm 244 afby a shaft 284 extending through board 18v ed at one endito said cup body and exbelow recess 230 and supported'by a bear-' tendin through the horizontal slot 246 mg plate 285mounted on said board. The

throug .board 18 to have its other end seouter end of shaft 284 carries the pawl 68 cured to the cross-head 248. Gro$-head 248 adapted toact in conjunction with extended is provided with inwardly projecting lugs prongs 290 on the coin'gate,

- ,250 which, by openings therethrough are slid- Sa1d coin gate is a wheel 292 carried on ably mounted on the guide rod 252. The ashaft 293 mountedinsaidboard 18 formedupper end of said crosshead may be formed with a number of suitably arc-shaped recesses with the downturned tongue 254, providing 294 in the circumference thereof. The ina groove 256 receivable over the guide rod tersections of the arcs mayall be defined by 258. Said rods are secured to board in any the prongs 290, or some of said prongs may suitable manner,asfor instance, by the brackbe omitted, as at 288, for a purpose hereinets 253, 255, for holding said rods parallel after appearing.

to each other. Mounted approximately in In normal position,- the flat face 296 of the center of said crosshead is the bearing the'pawl 68 willibe maintained in position by post 260 upon which is pivotally mounted the weighted arm 274 to contact aprong 290. I

one end of link 262. The other end of said When coins are arranged in the coin retainlink has pivot connection with an arm 264 ing incline 64, the weight thereof will mainfixed on bar 160 and extending therefrom at tain a prong 290 in contact with said flat a point intermediate bearing post 164 and face 296. When ball 30 falls down trip chute slot 206. 62, however, it will impact finger 270 sufli- After the .carria e' 38 has carried ball 30 ciently to lift weighted arm 274 and rotate up to" the top of -e evator 40, the operator, shaft 284 through link 280 and crank 282 by manipulating control hand wheel 42, may to move the flat face296 momentarily out of adjust the position of cup 56 through the engagement with the contacting prong 290. medium of arm 264, link 262, and crosshead The weight of the coins will drive the wheel 248 so that said cup will be stationed at 292 around, discharging coins down the chute any point below hazard 54 at which the op- 298 to thedischarge outlet 70 formed through 40 erator judges the ball 30 will emerge. If the ornamental woodwork 72 until the flat to follow accurately the horizontal deviation through the action .of weighted arm 274, tions of said ball until it falls into said cup. and the action of prong 290 against the nose Said ball will be retained in said cup by the 297 of said pawl 68-contacts with the next exfront wall of recess 230. However, if the tended prong 290. The flow of coins to'disoperator now releases his hold on hand wheel charge outlet 7 0 will then be cut oil.

42, the weight of bar 160 and its associatedparts will tendto return the apparatus to the fiOOI' 146 of the ball. gulde 36 and I'OllS its normal position, that is, with carriage 38 into contact with. the normally closed ball at the bottom of, elevator 40. and the cup- 56 g 2 If the operator fails to catch'the the operator is sufficiently dexterous and skilface 296 of pawl 286, which has almost in ful, the movement of cup 56 may be made stantaneously been returned to stop posi- Ball 30, after passing finger 27 0, fallsupon at the extreme left of its travel across the ball 30, i Will fall past cup 56 upon the front of panel 10. In this position, the open grades 58 Which converge to the mouth of side of cup 56 will register with the perforathe ball return 60, the latter passing through tion 266 formed through board 18. Ball 30 board 18 and communicatin with ball guide vwill now roll out of cup 56, through perfora- 36 a ove the finger 1360f all gate 28 and tion 266 to fall down the trip chute 62 on below th fi ger 270 in the trip chute 62. the rear side of board 18 with which the perforation has communication.

Said tri ehute'and ball guide 36 may, if desired, lie terial, properly formed to provide the trip mal position, there is no danger of ball 30 chute as a member of channel cross-section falling into elevator 40, since it will be rewith suitable means for attachment to the tained by gate 28. To forestall the pos- 65 board 18. A slot 268 is formed through a sibility of the ball passing into said elevator tact with finger 136.

It will thus be notedthat, even if carmade of one piece of sheet mariage 38 has not been returned to its nor- 1 Ball 30 will therefore come to rest incon-' K prematurely, as, if a coin were deposited after the ball has returned to seat a ainst' hou lder 308- formed in the u per end of rod ria 308 will be ushed out of the way and the 302-provides a seat upon w 'ch the lower flange 214, on the finger 222, bears to force the rod downwardly out ofthe way of carria 38. When carriage 38 .is moved away from the discharge end of ball guide 36, the

shoulder end 308 of said rod moves into the opening at the communication of guide 36 and elevator 40 to prevent the passage of ball 30,-released from gate 28 thereafter, into the elevator 40. However, when car- 38 returns to position, the shoulder ball 30 will top into said carriage.

The operation of the device has been made clear in the foregoing description. Briefly stated, however, a coin C, after passing the several tests of the coin receiving and rejecting means 24, falls down coin guide 26, impacting. rong 126-to release ball 30 at gate 28. The coin continues till stopped by the finger 32 and the wall 150 of the coin guide. Theball rolls down ball guide 36 and, if carriage 38 has moved the safety to 300 out of the way, into said carriage.

Rotation of hand wheel 42 now forces coin C past finger 32 so that it may roll down to the coin retaining inclines 64 or into the coin safe 202. Simultaneously a ackage 44 will have been dischar d by the trap plate 178 through the dehvery outlet 196 and the carriage 38 with ball 30 lifted so that said ball will roll to the recess 230 in said panel, over the inclines 52, through the hazard 54 to be caught by the cup 56, or to fall on the grade 58 and be returned to contact with ball ate 28. If caught, the ball is carried to all down trip chute 62, and to trip the pawl 68 tov rmit a coin discharge past coin gate 66. hereafter the ball returns to contact the gate '28.

It is to be understood that, if so desired, the coins or checks deposited in the coin receivin and rejecting means 24 may be delivered directly to com safe 202, after the actuation of finger 32 of dis'pensin mechanism actuator 34 has taken place. 11 such case, an article delive runway ma be provided by which artic es to be dehvered as rewards for success in the game may be fed to the incline 64 and delivered by the gate 66 ,as previously described for coins.

Also, if a reward is undesirable, the shaft 284, here shown as connected to pawl 68, may instead be connected to,a reset totalizing register by means of which a score for each operation will be set up, in a well-known It will thus beseen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use. As various ossible embodiments might be made of the a ve'invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or' shown invthe accompanyingdrawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Havingvthus described our invention, we

Letters after elevation thereof, manipulative means for diverting the ball from its normal path, a pronged- Wheel, and means normally looking said Wheel released by the diverted ball.

2. In a machine of the character described,

a vending device, a storage chute for articles other than those vended, a wheel at the end of said chute, means for'lockin'g said wheel, and a dexterity and skill testing device'comprising a movable ball, coin controlled means for initiating movement of said ball, manu ally operable means for imparting motion to said ball, said manual means being connected by said coin with said vending mechanism,

and means operable by said ball for releasing said Wheel locking means, whereby articles are delivered from said storage chute under the 'control of said'wheel rotated under theweight of said articles.

' 3. In a machine of the character'described, a board provided .with spaced openings,

means for ejecting a ball through one of said openings to move relative to said board, means for rendering the path of said ball irregular, manually operable means connected to the ball ejecting. means and movable for catching and diverting the ballthrough another of said openings, vending mechanism operatively connectible by a coin deposited in a the machine to said manually operable means, a storage chute for articles other than those vended, means for guiding the ball to the initial position, a ballstop restraining said ball from moving to said ejecting means means actuated by said coin for releasing said stop,

\ and means normally obstructing-the chute and controlled by the diverted ball for allowin a predetermined quantity of articles to fal from the chute by gravit 4. In a combined vending and game device,

65 manner, whenever the finger 270 is tripped. a ball approximately spherical in form, a

ball chute, slidable means controlled by the for depositing said ba1l chute and operable by the ball deosited at the upper end of the chute for re-. easing other articles deliverable to the purchaser by gravity. v

5. In a combined vending game device comprising a ball and catching means therefor, a panel having a passage for said ball when caught,a chute for receiving said ball from said passage, said panel having a lower opening for diverting the ball when not caught into the lower end of the chute, a lever having an end thereof inserted into said chute below 'said' passage and actuable by said ball when falling through said chute, a stop in the lower end of said chute for retaining the ball in the chute and coin controlled means for releasing said ball.

6. In a mechanism of the character described, a coin chute, a lever having one end thereof inserted into said chute and adapted to be tripped by a coin passing through said chute, a ball chute, a pivoted ball stop having a lug thereon inserted at the lower end of said ball chute, means coacting with said lever and ball stop to lift said ball stop when a coin is deposited in said coin chute to release a ball in said ball chute, and a slidably mounted carriage for receiving and elevating said released ball.

7. In a device of the character described, in combination with vending mechanism, means for retaining a ball against movement, coin controlled means for releasing said ball, a carriage for receiving said released ball, a

' slide having means for catching said ball,

and manually operable means adapted to be operatively connected to said vending mechanism by a coin from said coin controlled means, for simultaneously actuating said vending mechanism, elevating said carriage, and operating said catching means.

8. In a skill testing and vending machine of the character described, a ball chute, means for starting a ball on its path including a pivoted lever, a knob, means connecting said lever and said knob, a coin controlled ball stop, and a carriage movable vertically by said lever and adapted to receive the ball when released by said ball stop, a slide operatively connected to said lever for diverting the ball from its path, vending mechanism operatively connectible to said lever by a coin deposited in the machine, means for delivering other articles than those 'vended, and means including'an element interposed begaging element.

tween saidball stop and slide for releasing the article delivery means when the ball has I been diverted by said slide.

9. In a skill testing and vending machine I of the character described, vending means, 'a

ball catching slide, a coin controlled ball stop, a ball carriage for receiving the ball when released from said stop, manipulative means connected to said vending means by a coin deposited in the machine, said means simultaneously starting a ball on its path by the operation of said carriage, interposing the-ball catching slide in the path of the ball, i and actuating said vending means, an. in-

clined chute visible from the front of the Ina-f,

chineior articles otherv than those vended,

a pronged. wheel normally obstructing the lower end of said chute, and means including an element normally engaging said wheel and controlled by the passage of the ball through said slide for releasing said wheel,

whereby weight of the articles in the chute causes the wheel to rotate and to release said articles from the chute until one of the prongs on said wheel is engaged by the wheel en- 10. In a device of the character described, in combination with a weighted object, means for restraining movement of said object, coin controlled means for releasing said object,

means for receiving and elevating said released object, means for rendering the path of the object uncertain after being elevated,

and means co-ac'ting with said receiving and elevating means for catching and moving said object after'said object has passed through said uncertain path.

11. In a device of the character described, in combination with a weighted object, means for restraining movement of said object, coin controlled means for releasing said object, means for receivingand elevating said released objeet, means for rendering the path of the object uncertain after being elevated, means co-acting with said receiving and elevatingmeans for catching and moving said object after said object has passed through said uncertain path, and means operable by said moved object to release articles deliverable by gravity.

12. In a device of the character described,- in combination with vending mechanism, a weighted object, means for restraining movement of said object, coin controlled means for releasin said object, manually operable means or receiving and elevating said re-- leased object, means connected with said vending device for supporting said coin after releasing said object, and means co-acting with said coin and manually operable means connected to the'manually o receiving and elvatin said ball, means for rendering the ath of e ball uncertain after being elevate means for catching the ball rable means, means connected to the vendm mechanism to support the coin after releasing the ball, and means coacting with said manually operable means and said coin to actuate said vending mechanism when the ball is elevated.

14. In a combined vending and skill testing device, in combination, a ball restrained by a stop, coin controlled means for releasing the ball, manually operable means for receiving and elevating said ball, means for rendering the path of the ball uncertain after being elevated, means for catching the ball connected to the manually o erable means,

means connected to the vending mechanism to support the coin after releasing the ball, and means co-acting with said manually operable means and said coin to actuate said Y vending mechanism when the ball is elevated,

a wheel for catching the coins after actuation of said vending mechanism, and means operable bthe caught balls for permitting turning 0 said wheel to release said coins by gravity. V

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

' MARK WOLIN.

NICHOLAS F. RIBSAM. 

